Pac-12 Networks to air 96 women's volleyball games in 2014

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF. (June 16, 2014) – Pac-12 Networks will televise 96 women’s volleyball matchups – the most in Networks’ history – that features a total of 16 NCAA tournament qualifiers from 2013, including both defending champion Penn State and runner-up Wisconsin.

Pac-12 women’s volleyball will reap the benefits of Pac-12 Networks’ increase to 850 event productions this fall with a record 96 live telecasts. This year’s slate is also chocked full of Pac-12/Big Ten battles with ten games pitting programs from both powerhouse conferences against each other.

The action begins Friday, September 5 with a doubleheader from Stanford as the Cardinal hosts NCAA defending champion Penn State at 6:00 p.m. PT, followed by UCLA facing off against Illinois (at Stanford) at 8:30 p.m. PT.

The Penn State-Stanford game will also be a rematch of last year’s five-game NCAA Quarterfinal in which Penn State outlasted the Cardinal to advance to the NCAA Semifinals. Additionally, the reigning Pac-12 Champion Washington Huskies, who advanced to the NCAA Semifinals in 2013, have an exciting matchup at American Airlines Arena against NCAA runner-up Wisconsin Friday, September 19 at 8:00 p.m. PT.

Each Pac-12 team will appear on the Networks at least 12 times (home or away) in 2014 with USC leading the way with 20 appearances. The schedule also includes Pac-12 rivalry week kicking off Conference play September 23-25, with Stanford, UCLA, Arizona, Oregon, Washington and Colorado hosting their regional rival.

The 2013 season was an exciting one for Pac-12 volleyball as a record nine programs earned NCAA Tournament bids. With Washington, USC and Stanford advancing to the regional final, the Pac-12 extended its streak of at least one team advancing every year. In addition, the Huskies led all Pac-12 team postseason performances, making their first tournament semifinal appearance since 2006.

The Conference returns the AVCA Player of Year in Washington’s Krista Vansant, one of eight 2013 AVCA All-Americans returning to Pac-12 programs that includes first-team honorees Inky Ajanaku (Stanford) and Ebony Nwanebu (USC).

Throughout the fall, Pac-12 volleyball will headline the Networks’ primetime lineup on Wednesday and Friday, as well as Sunday’s afternoon schedule.